The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development H.E. MBAIROBE GABRIEL led the Cameroonian Delegation to the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Food Security and Agricultural Development, which took place from 25 to October 27, 2021 in Istanbul, Turkey, under the theme “Improvement the Food Systems, for Ensuring Food Security of OIC Member States”.
The Conference which saw the participation of several experts, senior officials of the OCU specialized bodies, the Ministers of Agriculture of OIC Member States and Civil Society Organizations, aimed at evaluating the actions of the 'Organization in this area and to set future orientations.
The Ministerial Meeting took place on October 27, 2021, under the High Patronage of H.E. RECCEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, President of the Republic of Turkey.
During the various statements by Ministers and Heads of Delegation, Minister MBAIROBE GABRIEL presented Cameroon’s standpoint during by calling for the strengthening of cooperation within the OIC, in order to ensure Food Security in the Member States of the Organization. To achieve this, the Cameroonian Government is gradually taking several measures provided for in SND-30. He also highlighted that Cameroon could host one of the storage facilities of the 4th RSA of the OISA.
On the sidelines of this 8th Ministerial Conference, H.E. MBAIROBE GABRIEL, had a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, H.E. DR. BEKIR PAKDEMİRLİ, on October 26, 2021. The stakes of the OIC Ministerial Conference and bilateral cooperation were at the center of the discussions between both Ministers. The Head of the Cameroonian Delegation congratulated Turkey for the successful organization of the 8th Ministerial Conference, the relevance of the central theme as well as the quality of the discussions during the experts and Senior Officials Meetings.
At the bilateral level, the two Ministers congratulated themselves on the excellent relations of cooperation, friendship and solidarity that exist between Cameroon and Turkey as well as envisaged approaches geared at strengthening this cooperation in the field of Agriculture between the two countries, mainly through actions such as strengthening partnerships between SMEs, sharing of good practices, experiences and the transfer of appropriate technologies.
The MINADER granted hearings to the Top Management officials of some specialized OIC institutions, after his clarion call on the importance of strengthening cooperation within the OIC on October 27, 2021.
Among whom where, Mr. YERLAN BAIDAULET, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (OISA) who expressed the interest of the Organization in Cameroon by requesting the support of our country in the realization of its activities. Mr. BAIDAULET also indicated that OISA is willing to open its African Office in Cameroon, which could also house an RSA storage facility.
In-depth discussions on supporting Cameroon in the production of staples such as rice, cassava, etc. and the financing of PPP projects, by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), in the agricultural sector, was also the main topic of discussion with Mr. NUR ABDI, Senior Representative of the IDB.